Substance Abuse

If you use illegal drugs or misuse legal substances such as alcohol or pain medication, you may suffer from substance abuse. Substance abuse and addiction are serious conditions that can harm your physical health and emotional and mental wellness. At Christie’s Family Health LLC, Sheritha Chambliss, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, offers treatment programs to help with alcohol, opioids, and all other types of substance abuse. To end your dependency on drugs or alcohol, call the office in Houston, Texas, or request an appointment online today.

What is substance abuse?

When you use illegal drugs or you use legal substances like alcohol or prescription medications excessively or in an inappropriate way, it’s known as substance abuse. Substance abuse can harm your physical and emotional health; it can also lead to addiction, a disease that prevents you from being able to control or stop your use of substances.

Some of the most common substances that people abuse include:

• Alcohol
• Legal and illegal opioids (painkillers, heroin)
• Prescription medications
• Amphetamines
• Methamphetamines
• Cocaine
• MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy)

People who are addicted to substances need help to stop using, but even if you don’t have a physical addiction, treatment can help you regain control over substance abuse so it doesn’t cause devastating consequences for your work, personal life, physical health, or safety.

What are the signs of substance abuse?

If you’re struggling with substance abuse, you may experience the following:

• Lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy
• Mood swings
• Avoiding social interaction
• Sleep disturbances
• Work or family problems

If you need more and more of the substance to achieve the desired effect, it could indicate substance use dependence or addiction.

Do I need treatment for substance abuse?

Whether or not you’re physically addicted to a substance, it can be tough to end the cycle of substance abuse on your own. At Christie’s Family Health LLC, Sheritha designs customized substance abuse and addiction treatment programs that help you end your struggles with substance use so you can lead a full, productive life.

The goals of substance abuse treatment include:

• Ending substance dependency 
• Managing cravings and triggers
• Building support systems
• Developing life-coping skills

At Christie’s Family Health LLC, Sheritha offers a variety of outpatient treatment options, including:

• Standard outpatient treatment
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Partial hospitalization
• Sober living programs

Substance abuse programs are integrative and collaborative, drawing from a variety of evidence-based practices.

What is involved in substance abuse treatment?

Depending on your unique situation, your substance abuse treatment plan may include:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions
• Relapse prevention
• Nutritional and lifestyle counseling
• Neurofeedback

Don’t hesitate to seek help for substance abuse. To schedule a confidential evaluation at Christie’s Family Health LLC, call the office, or request an appointment online today.